carpet beetle

noun

: any of several small dermestid beetles (genera Anthrenus and Attagenus) whose larvae are destructive especially to woolen goods

Examples of carpet beetle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not only that, insects, including silverfish, termites, and carpet beetles, to name a few, love to feed on paper. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024 They can sometimes be mistaken for bed bugs due to their size and shape, but unlike bed bugs, carpet beetles have wings and can fly. — Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carpet beetle was circa 1889

Rhymes for carpet beetle

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Browse Nearby Words

carpet bedding
carpet beetle
carpet-bomb
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Cite this Entry

“Carpet beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpet%20beetle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

carpet beetle

noun
: a small beetle whose larva damages woolen goods

More from Merriam-Webster on carpet beetle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carpet beetle

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